BY NIKKI PATRICK

Pittsburg Community Middle School students take on George M. Cohan in "All Aboard for Broadway," to be presented at 7 p.m. today in Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.

The musical was written by Craig Sodaro, according to director Joella Reid. "He's golden - one of the few who writes good shows for this age group," she said. "It's got just about every George M. Cohan song you ever heard."

That includes such goodies as the World War I favorite "Over There," "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Give My Regards to Broadway."

It's set in 1917 New York, just before the start of World War I. Florenz Ziegfeld, played by Logan Johnson, is putting on another Broadway show, and numerous girls show up to audition, including Ethel Block, played by Penny Komes, Gladys Vanderkelter, played by Liza Erwin, Mary Conklin, played by Gracie Spencer, Cleo, played by Klair Parsons, Belle, played by Sam Sarley, Leona, played by Kylie Wilber, Inez, played by Emily Fite, and Jeanette, played by Sarah Gorman.

On the way to the audition, Mary's friends - Loretta, played by Emma Bailey, and Georgia, played by Taylor McGuire - introduce her to Harry Harrigan, played by Alex McNay, a tunesmith who's never managed to peddle any of his songs. There's an instant chemistry between Harry and Mary. However, he takes off when the Delaney sisters, a couple of local loan sharks, show up to collect the $200 he owes them. They're played by Courtney Jarvis and Emily Folk.

Harry inadvertently leaves his portfolio of songs behind, and Mary finds it and keeps it. As the war breaks out, Harry enlists, meeting Mack Carter, played by Kevin McNay, Mabel, played by Megan Peters, Marcie, played by Logan Rink, and Midge, played by Lexi Hale.

Mary is at first unsuccessful, but later is chosen by Ziegfeld to star in a new patriotic show, "Yankees Away," working with Ziegfeld's stage manager Barney Swartz, played by Josh Wilde, and musical director Cadwallader Finch, played by Alexander Jemison.

The play flops, thanks to the lousy songs written by Finch. Mary saves the day by pulling out that portfolio of Harry's songs, which become the basis for "Grand Old Flag," a new hit show. She's the star of the show, and Ziegfeld starts to fall for her, much to the dismay of his current girlfriend Billie, played by Gabby Murnan. Of course, Billie has other troubles, because her hometown beau Tex Landry, played by Gene Frevele, shows up in New York to take her away from the wicked city.

To win Mary's affection, Ziegfeld enlists and finds himself in the same fox hole as Harry. This scene, by the way, includes some pretty impressive lighting effects, especially when a German bomb falls. Ziegfeld believes that Harry has been killed and, when the war is over, goes home to give Mary the bad news. She refuses to believe him, quits the show and heads home to Hackensack, N.J.

However, Harry has been rescued - of all people, by the Delaney sisters, who have been hired by Billie.

The cast also includes Thomas Catron as Luigi, owner of an Italian restaurant; Jordan Dee as Charlene; Emily Commons, Catherine Geiger, Elizabeth Willis and Eric Davis as customers at Luigi's; Jordan Redd, Tara Earheart and Savanna Smith as actors; Kyra Hunt, Nicole Reigle and Erin O'Dell as subway commuters; Janeth Canales and Bailey Gebhardt as New York residents;' Garett Gebhardt as a streetsweeper; and Nicole Reigle as Ziegfeld's chauffeur.

Virginia Darling is music director for the show. Janette Mauk, as choreographer, has the cast members hoofing like pros. Jesse Denton is stage manager, with Dan Williams and Jason Huffman doing set design and construction. Denise Williams did some specialty artwork, Jason Huffman also did sound design, and Lin Little designed the lights.

Doing costume design and construction are Lisa Quinteros, Chelsea Smith and Janette Mauk. Jessena Schultz did make-up design. Serving on the set and running crew are Zach Coulter, Loren Cox, Chase Richardson, Katie Newdigger and Chris Carrell.

The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) February 22, 2007

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